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Question Profile
| DATE | Nov 11, 2007 |
| TICKET | #334964 |
| STATUS | Closed |
| SUBJECT | System locks but mouse keeps alive |
| CAT | Computers, Operating Systems, Applications or Connected Devices |
| TYPE | Operating System Features, Bugs and Problems |
| DESC | Apple |
| DESC | 10.4.X (Tiger) |
| PLATFORM | Apple Macintosh (PowerPC G3,G4,G5) |
| MODEL | iBook G4, 12inch |
| PROC | 1 Ghz |
| RAM | 512 Mb |
| DRIVE | 60 Mb |
| NAME | Marcio |
| USERNAME | arqeco |
| TECHNICAL | Lots of Experience |
| ISSUE | Lots of Troubleshooting |
Question Details
TICKET ARCHIVE -> System locks but mouse keeps alive
arqeco - Nov 11, 2007 - 10:43 am
Dear friends,
I have a strange problem here on a iBook G4 1 Ghz, 512 Mb RAM.
This computer locks often running different softwares. Reset is the only option when it locks.
What is strange is that the mouse cursor keeps alive, responsive, but nothing else works. Windows don't come up, clicks don't have any effect. The only thing working is the mouse cursor movement.
Have you heard about this kind of problem before? Do you have any idea?
System upgrade from 10.3 to 10.4 had no effect over this problem.
Thank you,
Márcio Moreira
I have a strange problem here on a iBook G4 1 Ghz, 512 Mb RAM.
This computer locks often running different softwares. Reset is the only option when it locks.
What is strange is that the mouse cursor keeps alive, responsive, but nothing else works. Windows don't come up, clicks don't have any effect. The only thing working is the mouse cursor movement.
Have you heard about this kind of problem before? Do you have any idea?
System upgrade from 10.3 to 10.4 had no effect over this problem.
Thank you,
Márcio Moreira
Cheryl - Nov 12, 2007 - 6:02 am
Marcio,
Does this happen with several programs running, or just one running and it 'locks or stalls'? What are you doing when you 'reset'?
How much free space do you have on your hard drive? To find out, just open a window (home or applications). Look at the bottom of the window. It will tell you how many items and how much free space is on the hard drive. The ideal free space should be about 5 to 7 GB free space.
Does this happen with several programs running, or just one running and it 'locks or stalls'? What are you doing when you 'reset'?
How much free space do you have on your hard drive? To find out, just open a window (home or applications). Look at the bottom of the window. It will tell you how many items and how much free space is on the hard drive. The ideal free space should be about 5 to 7 GB free space.
arqeco - Nov 14, 2007 - 11:33 am
Hello,
The problem happens with one or many programs running.
It's my wife's iBook, so it's very frequent to happen when she is using Microsoft Office. For instance, it may happen with only MS Word open.
The computer (almost) completely freeze. The only thing that keeps working is the mouse cursor movement. The system does not respond to mouse clicks or exposé shortcuts (F9,F10,F11).
The operating system freezes and the programs also freezes, typing does not any effect on MS Word, for instance.
The only alternative is press Control-Command-Power to reset the computer.
Her iBook have a new 60 Gb HD, with 15 Gb free. The problem is old, and used to happen when she had the original 30 Gb HD.
Not every day we have system locks. But on some days we have many locks.
By the way, we live on very hot climate, with temperatures above 100 F almost every day. But I have another iBook myself that works perfectly on the same place, since me and my wife works together.
Another information. X-Plane flight simulator locks her iBook between 2 to 5 minutes of flying, every time I try to run it. But on my iBook it works perfectly.
Very strange :-)
Is there any defective iBook G4 1 Ghz production batch reported? This problem is old and it's getting worst with the time.
Thank you,
Márcio Moreira
Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
The problem happens with one or many programs running.
It's my wife's iBook, so it's very frequent to happen when she is using Microsoft Office. For instance, it may happen with only MS Word open.
The computer (almost) completely freeze. The only thing that keeps working is the mouse cursor movement. The system does not respond to mouse clicks or exposé shortcuts (F9,F10,F11).
The operating system freezes and the programs also freezes, typing does not any effect on MS Word, for instance.
The only alternative is press Control-Command-Power to reset the computer.
Her iBook have a new 60 Gb HD, with 15 Gb free. The problem is old, and used to happen when she had the original 30 Gb HD.
Not every day we have system locks. But on some days we have many locks.
By the way, we live on very hot climate, with temperatures above 100 F almost every day. But I have another iBook myself that works perfectly on the same place, since me and my wife works together.
Another information. X-Plane flight simulator locks her iBook between 2 to 5 minutes of flying, every time I try to run it. But on my iBook it works perfectly.
Very strange :-)
Is there any defective iBook G4 1 Ghz production batch reported? This problem is old and it's getting worst with the time.
Thank you,
Márcio Moreira
Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
Cheryl - Nov 14, 2007 - 8:01 pm
Marcio,
There are several things that may be causing this. First, low memory. This is especially true with your games such as X-Plane. 512 MB is good but not enough to run a video intense game. Getting more memory for the iBook will help the situation.
Next is the nightly routine jobs. Every night the OS has routine jobs that must be done nightly, weekly and monthly. If you shut down the computer at night, these jobs are not done. The files that get cleared out never get cleared.
There is a program that does these jobs at start up.
Macaroni
http://www.atomicbird.com/macaroni
I use this on my computer at work as I shut it down every night. It works and helps keep the OS running smoothly. Once installed and you run all the jobs, the iBook will start running smoothly.
As for the heat, you should have the iBook slighly elevated at the back end. This will give the iBook 'breathing' room and keep it cool. This will help if you have noticed that it is running hot.
You should check to see if there are some programs running in the background that has been forgotten. Just go to System Preferences>Accounts and click on the user name. Now click on Login items. You may have a program that is set to start up and not realize it. You can click on the name of the program, then click on the - button at the bottom of the window.
Let me know if these tips help.
Cheryl
There are several things that may be causing this. First, low memory. This is especially true with your games such as X-Plane. 512 MB is good but not enough to run a video intense game. Getting more memory for the iBook will help the situation.
Next is the nightly routine jobs. Every night the OS has routine jobs that must be done nightly, weekly and monthly. If you shut down the computer at night, these jobs are not done. The files that get cleared out never get cleared.
There is a program that does these jobs at start up.
Macaroni
http://www.atomicbird.com/macaroni
I use this on my computer at work as I shut it down every night. It works and helps keep the OS running smoothly. Once installed and you run all the jobs, the iBook will start running smoothly.
As for the heat, you should have the iBook slighly elevated at the back end. This will give the iBook 'breathing' room and keep it cool. This will help if you have noticed that it is running hot.
You should check to see if there are some programs running in the background that has been forgotten. Just go to System Preferences>Accounts and click on the user name. Now click on Login items. You may have a program that is set to start up and not realize it. You can click on the name of the program, then click on the - button at the bottom of the window.
Let me know if these tips help.
Cheryl
arqeco - Nov 16, 2007 - 7:28 am
Hello Cheryl,
I've tested my wife's iBook with an 1 Gb memory card that is now on my computer (I use many graphics software). The added memory had no effect on X-Plane behavior on her iBook.
We use to rise the back part of our computers to keep them cooler.
The login itens of her account are:
- iTunesHelper.
- AdobeResourceSynchronizer
- Microsoft AU Daemon.
- Skype.
I am going to try a software to do the daily/weekly/monthly jobs and send you a report later.
Thank you friend,
Márcio
I've tested my wife's iBook with an 1 Gb memory card that is now on my computer (I use many graphics software). The added memory had no effect on X-Plane behavior on her iBook.
We use to rise the back part of our computers to keep them cooler.
The login itens of her account are:
- iTunesHelper.
- AdobeResourceSynchronizer
- Microsoft AU Daemon.
- Skype.
I am going to try a software to do the daily/weekly/monthly jobs and send you a report later.
Thank you friend,
Márcio
Cheryl - Nov 17, 2007 - 12:43 pm
Marcio,
In the login items, delete the iTunesHelper.
Does your wife use Adobe programs continously (like Photoshop)? If not, you can also delete the AbodeResourceSynchronizer.
See if the response is better after that.
The X-Plane has system requirements listed on the box. Check to see what is recommended for processor speed and video. It could be that her iBook does not have the needed speed or video for the game.
Cheryl
In the login items, delete the iTunesHelper.
Does your wife use Adobe programs continously (like Photoshop)? If not, you can also delete the AbodeResourceSynchronizer.
See if the response is better after that.
The X-Plane has system requirements listed on the box. Check to see what is recommended for processor speed and video. It could be that her iBook does not have the needed speed or video for the game.
Cheryl
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